A footballer who grew up in east London has been rubbing shoulders with some of the sport's biggest stars at the World Cup.
Aaron Tshibola, a former pupil of Kingsford Community School, featured on the bench for the Democratic Republic of the Congo as they faced Portugal - a team boasting the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes - in their opening World Cup fixture on June 17.
It marks a major milestone in Tshibola’s career, which began on the school’s football pitches between 2006 and 2011.
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Joan Deslandes, headteacher at Kingsford Community School, said: "Aaron’s journey is a fantastic example of what our ethos of Aspire, Succeed, Be Excellent represents. His dedication, resilience and passion for football were clear during his time here, and it is incredibly inspiring to see him now potentially competing at the highest level of international football."
While at Kingsford, Tshibola played a key role in the school’s victory in the London Cup in 2010 and in their run to the National Cup semi-final the same year. The team also enjoyed success in Newham competitions during his time there.
Supported by Kingsford’s sporting culture and encouragement, Tshibola went on to represent both Newham and Essex.
He was spotted by scouts while playing for Essex, leading to a move to Millwall FC and setting him on the path to a professional career. Tshibola later joined Reading FC, where he signed his first professional contract, before moving to Aston Villa.
He enjoyed a successful spell with Kilmarnock in Scotland and has represented DR Congo previously at the African Cup of Nations.
Kingsford Community School has expressed its pride in Tshibola’s achievements and in his rise from its school fields to the world stage.
As Tshibola prepares for what could be a defining moment in his international career, his former school community stands firmly behind him.
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